[On Monday 24th February, Suffolk County Council (SCC) announced to the media that it planned to take the library service back from the independent charity Suffolk Libraries. BBC News reported this at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyn434j57lo the following day.]
Victoria writes, "I’m not sure whether the village website is the place for this petition. [However, I am posting this all in the interests of public information, together with links to the two competing views. — Webmaster]
"I haven’t used the mobile library that comes to the village, but I think we are very well served by both Aldeburgh & Saxmundham libraries. It is local services that will lose out under the proposed unitary authorities when squeezed funding is needed for social care, education, etc. It therefore seems more important than ever to try and save this independent service if we can. In the face of no uplift in funding from Suffolk County Council to cover rising costs such as energy bills, it seems perfectly reasonable for Suffolk Libraries to suggest cutting back opening hours so that they can continue."
Thanks, Victoria
[What follows is part of an open letter from Suffolk Libraries' CEO Bruce Leeke in response to SCC's proposals.]
Dear Customer,
On Monday 24th February, Suffolk County Council (SCC) announced to the media it planned to take the library service back from the independent charity Suffolk Libraries. ... This threatens not only the future of Suffolk Libraries but the future of YOUR library service. Suffolk Libraries has been hugely successful in creating and funding dozens of unique services designed to meet the needs of each Suffolk community.
We wanted our customers to have a clear and honest explanation as to what is happening.
I have recorded a video which I hope explains the situation as clearly and succinctly as I can, and we have also sent a letter to SCC which sets out our position in detail.
[The full text of Bruce Leeke's open letter can be viewed at
https://slsfk.patronpoint.com/email/view/67c99bd59d30e552989923,
which also includes a link to his video
and to the Change.org petition that Victoria mentions.
Just because you "Sign this petition"
does NOT mean that you have to pay to "Support Change.org".
Nor do you need to "chip in £3 to help reach the petition goal",
but you can just choose to say that you will "share instead".
Quite reasonably, however, you will receive an email
asking you to "Click here to confirm your signature".]